Combined box handle and partition



Nov. 22, 1949 L. JAMES 2,489,034

' COMBINED BOX HANDLE AND PARTITION Filed July 8, 1946 2 SheetsSheet l 194 L; JAMES 2,489,034

COMBINED BOX HANDLE AND PARTITION Filed July 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 22, 1949 2,489,034 COMBINED BOX HANDLE AND PARTITION Louise James, New Orleans, La...

assignor to Huye Space Saving Box System Inc., New Orleans, La., a corporation of Louisiana Application July 8, 1946, Serial No. 681,977 4 Claims. (01. 229-15) This invention relates to a combined box handle and partition of the general character illustrated in the disclosure of the H. M. Inman Patent No.

2,264,208, and is particularly adapted for use with chick or poultry shipping boxes, though it may also be advantageously used with other types of boxes.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a combined box handle and partition which may be simply and economically formed of fiber board, card board or other usual sheet material of lighter weight and/or of less strength than heretofore required for such purpose, the material being reinforced by folding in a novel manner to attain a multi-plythickness of material at the areas of greatest stress.

vOther more specific objects are: to provide such a combined box handle and partition which embodies self contained means for maintaining itself in folded assembled condition; to provide in the handle portion of such a combined handle and partition a novel construction and arrangement providing a comfortable grip for the hand while also locking the several thicknesses of material of the handle in folded assembled relation; to provide such a device which may be easily and quickly formed by folding from an integral blank of flat sheet material; and, to provide such a blank which may be manufactured by usual cardboard or paper cutting and scoring operations.

Essentially the device of the invention comprises a central panel of fiber board, card board or other usual sheet material, and end panels of the same material connected to opposite lateral edges of said central panel and reversely folded relative thereto to lie flush against opposite faces thereof in relatively overlapping relation and thus provide a multiple thickness of material comprising the handle portion of the device, in which are formed suitable hand holes. Theportions of the panels in which the hand holes are formed will preferably project upwardly to extend through a slot in the top of a box applied thereover, though this is not essential as the device may be used with a box having no top, in which case the height of the hand hole or handle would be immaterial.

Preferably the device of the invention will include or embody an additional novel feature which resides in forming in conjunction with the handle portions thereof, a locking tongue or tongues to be bent'through the hand holes of the several handles when same are disposed in folded registering relation to cover the edges of said holes and form a smooth comfortable hand grip, the locking tongue or tongues being provided with locking wings which expand or assume such a position as to prevent withdrawal of the tongue or tongues through said hand holes, thereby locking the several panels in relatively folded condition.

Various anchoring means may be employed for securing the device in position in a box, the means shown in the accompanying drawings being merely illustrative.

The above, as well as other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings thereof, in which:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a chick or poultry shipping box having the preferred embodiment of the invention applied thereto, the box being in closed position;

Figure 2, a view similar to Figure 1 with the top of the box opened to permit a view into the interior thereof, a portion of the box top being removed or broken away;

Figure 3, a vertical section of the box taken on the line 3-3 of Figure '4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4, a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 5, a plan view of a flat sheet material blank from which the preferred form of combined box handle and partition of my invention may be formed.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings; the letter T therein designates the top of a box to which my invention may be applied, said top being formed medially with a lateral slot t through which the handle portion of my novel combined handle and partition may project. The top T is hingedly connected along one side to the adjacent box side S, as shown in Figure 2, the other side of the top being provided with a usual locking tongue L which may be inserted through a slit M in the other box side S to maintain the top in closed condition where desired. The laterally opposed sides or side walls S of the box are provided with laterally opposed vertical slots s, in lateral alignment with the slot 1! of the top, to cooperate with the preferred form of anchoring means of my invention. The letter E designates each of the two opposed end walls or ends of the box, and the letter B, the box bottom, while A designates each of a plurality of ventilating apertures such as are commonly employed in chick or poultry shipping boxes.

The box itself constitutes no part of my invention, the particular form of box shown being merely illustrative of various preferably fiber board, card board or paper board chick boxes, with which my invention is especially adapted for use, though it is capable of use with other types of boxes or containers, as will be readily apparent from the description and drawing herein.

The blank from which the preferred embodiment of the invention is formed, said blank being illustrated in Figure 5, may be formed of any usual substantially stiff sheet material, such as fiber board, card board or the like. The blank comprises a central or inner panel I and relatively symmetrically arranged end or outer panels 2 and 3 respectively, which are integrally connected to said central panel on opposite lat eral sides thereof. I

Inasmuch as the end panels 2 and 3 are adapted to be folded relative to the central panel I at their iunctures therewith, I prefer to facilitate both the ease and accuracy of said folding by the provision of vertical or transverse score lines or creases 4, defining the junctures or dividing lines between the central panel I and each of said end panels 2 and 3.

Each of the panels I, 2 and 3 is provided with a hand hole 5, 6 and I, respectively, extending therethrough, said hand holes being formed in the handle portions 8 which preferably project upwardly beyond the upper laterally extending edge of the blank, so that the composite handle formed by said portions 8 will project through and above the top T of the box, as in Figure 1. However, it is not essential that the handle portions 8 and hand holes 5, 6 and I be formed or disposed above the upper edge of the blank, as for instance where it is desired to use the invention in a topless box.

The handle portions 8 of the end panels 2 and 3, and their respective hand holes 5 and 1 are symmetrically located relative to the handle portion 8 and hand hole 6 of the central panel I, using their respective lines of attachment or fold lines 4 as the lines of symmetry so that, in-

folded condition, the several handle portions 8 and their respective hand holes will be disposed in registering relation.

Considering my invention from its broadest aspect, the shape of the various hand holes 5, 8 and I is immaterial so long as they are of generally corresponding shapes. However where the handle portions 8 and their respective hand holes embody the novel locking feature of my invention, as illustrated, the hand holes 5 and Ii are preferably of identical size and conformation, each preferably being defined by laterally extending upper and lower edges 9 and III respectively, vertical end edges II, and slanting or diagonal end edges I2 diverging downwardly and upwardly respectively from said upper and lower edges 9 and I0.

In the blank illustrated in Figure 5, the hand hole I of one of the end panels 3, which is of the same approximate size and shape as the hand holes 5 and B, is occupied by one or more locking tongues I3. The tongues I3 are integral with the blank along the respective upper and lower edges 9' and Ill of the hand hole I, and are adapted to be folded along said edges through the hand holes 5 and 6 of the other panels to lock the device in folded condition and provide a comfortable hand grip.

Each of the locking tongues I3 is detached or disconnected from the blank except as aforementioned, and providedwith free laterally projecting wings I I which project both laterally and vertically beyond the diagonal end edges I2 of hand holes 5 and 8 when the hole 1 is disposed in registry therewith in the folded condition of the device.

If desired, where the device is to be used in a chick box, ventilation apertures I5 and It may be formed at suitable locations in the blank, the apertures I5 being so located as to be in relatively registering relation in the folded assembled condition of the device.

Suitable means for maintaining the bottom portions of the several panels I, 2 and 3 in folded assembled condition may comprise a locking flap II foldable on a vertical score line I8 to be received in the vertical slots I9 extending upwardly from the lower edges of the panels I and 3, the score line I8 and vertical slots I9 being so located on the blank as to be in relative transverse registry in the folded condition thereof.

Any of various known means or arrangements may be provided for anchoring the device in a box. The means illustrated comprises anchoring members 20 integral with the free ends of panels 2 and 3 to project laterally through the vertical slots s in the laterally opposed box sides S. a

In the embodiment illustrated, the lateral extremity 2I of each member 20 is adapted to be reversely folded along a vertical line 22 prior to insertion through its respective slot s. Each said extremity or portion 2I has a projecting medial retaining flap 23 to extend back inwardly through its respective slot 3 and maintain itself in relatively folded condition, and end edge abutments or shoulders 24 to spring resiliently out of alignment with said slot and abut against the exterior surface of the box side wall S, thereby preventing withdrawal of said anchoring means. This particular arrangement, while advantageous and convenient, constitutes no part of my present invention, but is merely illustrative of various anchoring or fastening arrangements which may be employed to secure the handle and partition of my invention in place in a box.

In forming the combined box handle and partition of my invention from a blank such as illustrated in Figure 5, the two end panels 2 and 3 of the blank are respectively grasped in the two hands and urged towards each other into relative overlapping relation, causing the central panel I to fold in a lateral plane on the score lines 4 at degrees relative to each of said panels 2 and 3, to lie between the relatively overlapping portions thereof, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

As thus folded, the end panels 2 and 3 will lie flush against the central or inner panel I in relatively overlapping relation on opposite sides thereof, all of the handle portions 8 and their respective hand holes 5, 6 and "I, as well as the ventilating apertures I5, being in transversely registering relationship.

Where the locking flap I! is employed, said flap will be folded on the score line I8 to project transversely and will be transversely inserted through the slots I9 during the final stages of the folding operation, it being noted that the slanting upper edge of the flap II will have a wedge-like action facilitating such insertion; also that the flap II will be frictionally engaged and retained between the edges of the slots I9, thereby retaining the bottom portions of the panels I, 2 and 3 in relatively contiguous folded condition.

After the various panels I, 2 and 3 have been folded along the lines 4 as aforementioned, the lockingtongues l3 will-be folded transversely through the registering hand holes I and 6 and across the lateral edges 9 and Ill thereof. In passing through the holes 5 and 6, the wings Id of each locking tongue will engage the adjacent diagonal edges l2 of their'respective hand holes 5 and 6 and be bent or deflected thereby out of lateral alignment with the remainders of their respective tongues l3. After passing through said hand holes the wings I, due to the inherent resiliency of the fiber board or other material of which the blanks are formed, will return to their normal aligned positions to abut against the exteriorly presented face of the end panel 2 to prevent withdrawal of the tongues l3.

Thus the locking tongues l3 cooperate with the handle portions 8 to maintain the panels I, 2 and 3 in folded assembled relationship. At the 4 same time, the upper locking tongue l3 extends across the upper edges 9 of the hand holes 5 and 6 to provide a smooth somewhat transversely rounded comfortable hand grip.

It will be apparent that the lower locking tongue I3 could be omitted if desired, since the locking function performed by it is duplicated by the upper tongue; also that the diagonal end edges l2 of the hand hole 6 may be omitted if desired, without adversely affecting the locking function of the locking tongues l3, since same will cooperate with the corresponding diagonal end edges and adjacent portions of the outer end panel 2.

In applying the device in a box, after said device has been folded and assembled as above described, the top T of the box is raised or opened and the device is placed in the box to extend diagonally in a vertical plane between the opposed lateral sides S of the box with one of the anchoring members in substantial lateral registry with the vertical slot s in one of said panels S. The portion 2| of said member 20 is then held in reversely folded position while the member 20 is inserted laterally through the slot 3. Thereafter, with the lateral extremity or portion 2| of the other anchoring member 20 in folded condition, the sides S of the box may be resiliently laterally urged apart at their medial portions, or the partition of my invention may be laterally shortened by bending same about a vertical axis, or both, to permit swinging said other anchoring member 20 into lateral alignment with its respective slot 3 and inserting it therein. Or, alternatively, where the box is of the type shown wherein same is formed from a flat blank of sheet material by folding the sides S upwardly at right angles to the bottom B, the device of my invention may be held in proper position extending laterally across the box bottom B while the sides S of the box are folded upwardly to operatively receive the anchoring portions 20 in the respective slots s thereof.

Thereafter, the contents of the box, such as a number of chicks, may be placed in the box on opposite sides of the partition thus formed, and the top Tof the box may be lowered or closed to the position shown in Figure 1 to permit the composite multi-ply handle 8 to project upwardly through the slot t thereof.

Due to the multi-ply construction of the handle portion 8 of the combined handle and partition of my invention, said handle will be of constress, while the remaining portions thereof which undergo a lesser stress may be of single ply construction. Because of this, as well as the simplicity of the blank and ease of folding and applying same, considerable economies of material and labor may be efiected by the use of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

If A stifily resilient sheet material combined handle and partition adapted to extend laterally across the interior of a chick box formed with a top having a lateral slot therein and laterally opposed sides having vertical slots therein in alignment with said lateral slot comprising, a vertical central panel, relatively symmetrically arranged vertical end panels respectively integrally connected along vertical fold lines to the laterally opposite edges of said central panel, each of said end panels being of greater lateral extent than said central panel, and anchoring members integral with the free ends of said end panels to project through said vertical slots in the side walls of the box, each of said central and end panels comprising an upwardly projecting handle portion having a hand hole formed therethrough, said panels being relatively folded on said score lines so that said end panels lie flush against said central panel in relatively overlapping relation on opposite sides thereof, the said free ends of the end panels projecting in opposite lateral directions beyond said central panel in planes contiguous thereto, all of said handle portions and their respective hand holes being in registering relation and forming a reinforced triple thickness handle to project upwardly through said lateral slot in the top of the box, and means for maintaining the bottom portions of said panels in folded condition comprising a looking flap integral with one of said panels and projecting through slots formed in said other panels.

2. A combined handle and partition for a box comprising, a laterally extending length of stiiily resilient sheet material divided by two vertical fold lines into a central panel, said panel having a hand hole formed therein, and two end panels having hand holes formed therein, each of said end panels being of greater lateral extent'than said central panel, said end panels extending.

laterally from opposite sides of said central panel, and the portions of said end panels in which said hand holes are formed being symmetrically disposed relative to said central panel, each said fold line constituting the line of symmetry between its respective end panel and said central panel, said end panels being foldable on said respective lines into engagement with opposite faces of said central panel so that said hand holes will be disposed in relatively registering relation, and the free ends of said end panels will project in opposite lateral directions beyond said central panel in planes parallel thereto.

3. A combined handle and partition for a box comprising a laterally extending strip of sheet material divided by two vertical fold lines into a central panel and two relatively symmetrically arranged end panels each of greater lateral extent than said central panel, means being provided at the outer free end of said end panels for anchoring same to a box, each 01' said central and end panels comprising a handle portion having a hand hole formed therethrough, said panels being relatively folded on said score lines whereby said end panels lie flush against opposite faces of said central panel in relatively overlapping relation, and said outer free ends of the end panels project in opposite lateral directions beyond said central panel in planes contiguous thereto, all of said handle portions and their respective hand holes being in registering relation to form a reiniorced triple thickness handle adapted to project upwardly from said partition.

4. A combined handle and partition for a box comprising a central panel, and end panels integrally connected to opposite lateral edges of said central panel and reversely folded relative thereto to lie flush against opposite faces thereof in relatively overlapping relation, the relatively overlapping portions of said end panels and said central panel being formed with registering up- 8 wardly projecting handle portions having registering hand holes formed therein, the free ends of said end panels projecting laterally beyond said central panel, and means associated with said end panels for securing same in a box.

LQUISE JAMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

